a. (sb.). Forms: see UTTER a.; also 4– -most, 5–7 -moste, 6 -moost; 4–5 -mest, -meste, 4–6 -mast, 5–6 -maste, 6 Sc. -maist; 4–5 vttre-, 5 vttrmest, 6 uttirmuste, Sc. utermost(e, vtermast. [f. UTTER a. + -MOST. Cf. OUTERMOST a.]
I. 1. Outermost; farthest out or off; remotest; = UTMOST a. 1 a, OUTMOST a. 1.
In frequent use c. 1385–c. 1630. Now somewhat rare.
13[?]. Coer de L., 2911. [He swore] But yff it were i-brought adoun Be noon, the uttermeste wall, He scholde hym hew to peses small.
13[?]. Prose Psalter cxxxiv. 7 (Dublin MS.). Þe ottermast endes of þerþe.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., III. xx. (1495), 67. The vttermest sydes and partyes of the tongue.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, a viij. The vttermest Clees ye shall call the Pety Sengles.
1585. Lupton, Thous. Notable Th. (1660), 37. The uttermost or last joint of the tail.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., I. 23. It reacheth … to the vttermost bounds of the Dutchy of Ferrara.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., III. xxxviii. 248. From the uttermost parts of the Earth.
1667. Milton, P. L., VII. 266. To the uttermost convex Of this great Round.
1819. Shelley, Mask of Anarchy, lxvii. From the corners uttermost Of the bounds of English coast.
1872. Blackie, Lays Highl., Introd. 49. To indulge in the flight to uttermost Unst.
† b. Of garments or other coverings: = UTMOST a. 1 b. Obs. rare.
c. 1471. Fortescue, Wks. (1869), 452. If it be a pore Cote under their uttermost Garment.
1532–3. Act 24 Hen. VIII., c. 13. Their Gownes, Cootes with Sleves or other uttermost Garmentes.
1545. Raynald, Byrth Mankynde, I. ii. (1552), 1 b. Of the which [coats] the first and vttermost is called the skyn.
c. Greatest in extent; longest, rare.
a. 1586. Sidney, Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 63. The vttermost time presupposed in it, should be … but one day. Ibid. (a. 1586), Arcadia, III. xviii. [He] stood … with … his shield at the uttermost length of his arme.
2. Extreme; = UTMOST a. 2.
13[?]. [see UTMOST a. 2].
1429. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 352/1. To the uttermast distruction and anientisment of the said Merchantz.
1468. Sir J. Paston, in Paston Lett., II. 329. The uttermost pryse had not passyd v. mark.
1544. in Leadam, Star Chamber Cases (Selden), II. 306. As they will answere … for the same att their uttermost perilles.
1556. Olde, Antichrist, 59. The best … that shoulde lye in his uttermost possible power to doo.
1607. Norden, Surv. Dial., III. 88. You that haue bene here presently sworn to performe your uttermost duties.
1676. Hale, Contempl., II. 212. Thou … may’st most justly expect from the children of Men our uttermost Love, and Fear.
1702. H. Dodwell, Apol., § 1, in S. Parker, Cicero’s De Finibus. The time wherein Philosophy … received its uttermost Perfection.
a. 1796. in Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 91. His friendships are … faithful to the uttermost extremity.
1807. Wordsw., White Doe, III. 9. A voice of uttermost joy.
1856. Ruskin, Mod. Paint., IV. 74. To speak with uttermost truth of expression.
1890. Hallett, Thous. Miles on Elephant, 430. It is in the uttermost degree unlikely.
† b. Of persons: = UTTEREST a. 2 b. Obs.
1572. Forrest, Theophilus, 743. Howe happened thee to goe … Vnto his enemye moste vttermoste…?
1606. G. W[oodcocke], Hist. Ivstine, XXII. 82. They were solde … to the vttermost enemy of their estate.
† 3. Last in time; final. Cf. UTMOST a. 3. Obs.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxxvii. 232. And Marie me menys þi modir hight, Þe vttiremeste ende of all þi kynne.
1463. Paston Lett., II. 133. For … the Sunday was the uttermest day.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, X. lxxxvi. 567. To the vttermest dayes of my lyf.
1549. Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par. 2 Tim. 20. He … is hable ynoughe to kepe vnto the vttermost daye, the thing that [etc.].
1593. Sidney’s Arcadia, IV. (1922), II. 111. The uttermost instant is scope enough for him, to revoke every thing.
1600. Holland, Livy, V. xxii. 195 b. The finall end and fall of Veij,… which even in this last and uttermost [L. ultimus] calamitie shewed her mightinesse.
b. Last of a series, store, etc. Chiefly in uttermost farthing.
1553. Latimer, Sermon on Lord’s Prayer (1562), 51 b. The lord … caste him into prison, there to lye till he had paied the vttermost farthing.
1611. Bible, Matt. v. 26. Thou shalt by no meanes come out thence, till thou hast payd the vttermost farthing.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 183. Vowing not to leaue him, till the vttermost drop of their bloud were spill.
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 446. The first borne is heire to all, even to the uttermost farthing.
1821–2. Shelley, Chas. I., II. 77. The uttermost Farthing exact from those.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. II. viii. His accounts lie all ready, correct in black-on-white, to the uttermost farthing.
a. 1876. J. B. Cameron, Poems & Songs (1877), 69.
| It drained, until | |
| The uttermost drop had passed the Asa’s throat. |
II. absol. or as sb.
4. External limit, part, etc.; = UTMOST a. 4.
13[?]. [see UTTEREST a. 4].
1382. Wyclif, Deut. vi. 15. Lest eny tyme the woodnes of the Lord … doo thee awey fro the vttermoost of the erthe.
c. 1520. M. Nisbet, Acts i. 8. In al Judee,… and into the vtermast of the erd.
1563. Shute, Archit., D iv. From the vttermost of the Abacus.
1851. Longf., Gold. Leg., III. Nativity, iii. 43. The Angel of the uttermost Of all the shining, heavenly host.
b. sb. pl. = UTMOST a. 4 b. Obs. rare.
a. 1390. Wycliffite Bible, Isaiah xlii. 10 (MS. Douce 369). Singiþ … his praisynge fro þe vttermostis of þe erþ [L. ab extremis terræ]. [See also UTMOST a. 4 b.]
† 5. The very most; = UTMOST a. 5, 5 b. Obs.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc., 83. For þe vertu of þam aboute fire is þe vttermoste of strenght.
1477[?]. Stonor Papers (Camden), II. 34. You schalle vnderstonde the vttermeste of my stomake.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., VII. (1811), 645. For the encrece & augmentacion thereof, to the vttermoost of theyr powers.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 37. He wolde haue done his vttermost.
1578. H. Wotton, Courtlie Controv., 40. In doing wherof, you shall bynde me with the vttermoste of my seruice to acknowledge the honoure.
c. 1590. Marlowe, Faustus, iii. But be resolute, And trie the vttermost magicke can performe.
1604. Shaks., Oth., III. iv. 167. Ile moue your suite, And seeke to effect it to my vttermost.
1610. R. Field, Fifth Bk. Ch., lvii. 466. The vttermost therefore that our Aduersaries can say, is [etc.].
1638. Junius, Paint. Ancients, 228. The uttermost on either side is vicious.
1668. Sanderson, Cases, 75. Let the Daughters disobedience deserve all this uttermost of punishment, from the offended Father.
† 6. a. End; issue; = UTMOST a. 6. Obs. rare.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VII. vii. 223. Aweye wille I not tyl I see the vttermest of this Iourneye.
1593. Sidney’s Arcadia, III. (1922), II. 4. Zelmane … had now looked to the uttermoste [ed. 1674 utmost] of it, and established her minde upon an assured determination.
b. The extreme or furthest limit (in time). Obs.–1
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., II. i. 213. Bru. By the eight houre, is that the vttermost? Cin. Be that the vttermost, and faile not then.
7. To the uttermost, = UTMOST a. 7. Now rare or Obs.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), IV. xxix. 61. Ne he ne shalle nought ben of power … for to descryuen to the uttermost, be it good or badde.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, IV. vii. 128. To doo the bataille to the vttermest.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. 13 b. All the appetites of man shalbe replenysshed with all goodnes, and saciat with glory, to the vttermoste.
1588. A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., 51 The sonne of god … hes sufferit all things to the vttermaist.
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence (1607), Andria, IV. i. To labour to the vttermost with might and maine.
1605. London Prodigal, III. ii. Her loue will then be tried to the vttermost.
1622. R. Hawkins, Voy. S. Sea, 120. The cause that every man forceth himselfe to the vttermost, to doe the labour of two men.
1772. Cook, First Voyage, III. i. (1773), III. 493. They … seemed resolved to defend their coast to the uttermost.
1844. Mrs. Browning, Lost Bower, lxxiii. The prayer preserves it greenly, to the last and uttermost.
1846. Trench, Mirac., xxvii. 359. Now the Scribes were pressing the advantage which they had gained … to the uttermost.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq., xviii. IV. 139. To withstand the stranger to the uttermost.
(b) 1489. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 424. True and faithfull service to the uttermost of his power.
1557. Order of Hospitalls, E 4 b. To the best and uttermost of your wits and powers.
1593. Sidney’s Arcadia, V. (1922), II. 158. To the uttermost of my skill.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., II. i. § 1. That … we defend, to the vttermost of that habilitie which he hath giuen.
1611. Bible, Translators to Rdr., ¶ 3. To haue care of Religion,… yea to promote it to the vttermost of their power.
1638. Hamilton Papers (Camden), 32. The Couenanters haue … labored to the uttermost of ther pouer to procure the rescinding.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 183. The natives … will generally be … kind also to the uttermost of their power.
8. † a. At the uttermost (also at uttermost), = UTMOST a. 8. Obs.
1530. in W. H. Turner, Select. Rec. Oxford (18B0), 87. For every pott iijs, or at the uttermuste iiijs.
1535. Layton, in Lett. Suppress. Monast. (Camden), 72. On Wedinsday by nyght, at utermoste.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. 30 b. Within three monethes, or foure at the vttermost after they are sowen.
1582. N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., I. ii. 6 b. Not aboue thirtie leagues distaunt from thence at the vttermost.
b. At one’s uttermost, at the utmost point of test or danger. rare–1.
1859. Tennyson, Marr. Geraint, 502. But if I live, So aid me Heaven when at mine uttermost, As I will make her truly my true wife.
